“Yes. The short answer is: absolutely,” she said. “Those are the things we look for. We look at the last three, four elections.”

The percentage of registered voters in District 2 participating in the election was 44 percent, 11 percentage points less than District 4.

From experts to candidates and district residents, the reasons for the low voter turnout varied widely.

Demographics play a role in election participation, Melo said.

“Higher income [areas] will have a different turnout,” she said.

District 2 takes up a portion of Tulare’s west side while District 4 includes northcentral Tulare, including the area around Tulare Regional Medical Center.

There’s also the timing of the election.

This November it was a mid-term election. Presidential elections tend to have higher participation.

Sayre also said factors that may have contributed include voters’ apathy, what she called a national trend, and dissatisfaction.

According to information from the elections’ office, over the last five years, there were 1,800 District 2 voters who participated in elections.

Bernice Billings walks into the Tulare Senior Center. Billings said she wants registered voters to take part in elections. The senior center is located in council's District 2 where the voter turnout was low.(Photo: Luis Hernandez)

What residents have to say

Low voter participation in area 2 was attributed to lack of awareness about the candidates, religious beliefs and confusing ballot language.

Jackie Montanez, whose home displayed election signs for Gutierrez, said some voters were unfamiliar with the candidates and the issue they were running on.

Montanez was disappointed voters’ participation was low.

“I would want more people who are willing to vote,” she said. “It would make a difference.”

Other residents said failing to get time from work, lacking transportation and a language barrier combined to keep voters away.

Matthew Juarez, a homeowner in District 2, said he believed the lack of voters’ participation related to age. Younger voters are not interested in local politics and elections.

“There’s a lack of interest. Absolutely,” he said.

In District 2, there were 11,867 residents in November 2011, the latest data available.

There were 1,281 voters in the November election. The winner, Sayre, received just 5 percent of the total population of the district. Among registered voters, she received 20 percent of votes.

When told about the numbers, Joe Anaya simply shook his head. He was rendered speechless.

“I have no answer for that,” he said. “I guess people don’t like to vote.”

Anaya said voters skipped the election because they want to avoid getting called for jury duty. Other reasons for skipping on voting is a busy lifestyle and lack of information on the election and candidates.

Anaya, speaking at Tulare Senior Center, said retirees should make time to vote.

Miriam Cano, walking home after dropping off her child at Maple Elementary School, said voters may experience distrust.

“Voters don’t believe what candidates have to say,” she said.

But unless there’s participation, leadership won’t change, she added.

“People have to vote for a change to occur,” Cano said.

Socorro Nunez agreed with Cano.

“Voters don’t believe candidates anymore,” she said. “Candidates say they will do this, say they will do that. And they don’t. I believe that’s why some people don’t vote.”

Nunez didn’t vote in the November election, she said.

Irma Giron said she believes voters’ lack of participation is squarely on them.

Why doesn't area 2 vote?

Regardless of the reason, there’s no excuse for not voting, Melo said.

“They have a duty to keep government honest,” she said.

Bernice Billings, who was visiting the senior center, agreed with Melo.

"I think everybody has to get out and vote," she said. "It's up to them who they want in the board."

While getting every registered voter to participate may be impossible, there are ways to drive participation.

Sayre, a former teacher, said she will seek to engage with district residents, an attempt to drive up election participation. She also said she will seek to establish groups, similar to Neighborhood Watch, to get frequent reports on issues affecting the district.

“We can get a structure to let people be heard,” she said. “It could be a solution."